[Federal Register: July 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 127)]
[Notices]
[Page 37472-37475]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jy08-57]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
[Docket No. MMS-2007-OMM-0075]
MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0068--30 CFR Part 250,
Subpart M, Unitization, Extension of a Collection; Submitted for Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0068).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we
are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information
collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 250, Subpart M,
Unitization. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity
to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.
DATE: Submit written comments by July 31, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You should submit comments directly to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for
the Department of the Interior (1010-0141), either by fax (202) 395-
6566 or e-mail (OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov).
Please also send a copy to MMS by either of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov. Under the tab ``More Search
Options,'' click Advanced Docket Search, then select ``Minerals
Management Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click
``submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select MMS-2007-OMM-0075 to submit
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available
for this rulemaking. Information on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through
the site's ``User Tips'' link. The MMS will post all comments.
Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381
Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference
``Information Collection 1010-0068'' in your subject line and mark your
message for return receipt. Include your name and return address in
your message text.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulations that require the
subject collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart M, Unitization.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0068.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease.
Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and
natural gas resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to
make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as
rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development
with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to
[[Page 37473]]
ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the
OCS; and to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. Section
1334(a) specifies that the Secretary ``provide for the prevention of
waste and conservation of the natural resources of the [O]uter
Continental Shelf, and the protection of correlative rights therein''
and include provisions for ``unitization, pooling, and drilling
agreements.''
Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR
Part 250, Subpart M, Unitization. Responses are mandatory and generally
on occasion or they are required to obtain or retain a benefit. No
questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are asked. The MMS protects
information considered proprietary according to the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR
2), and 30 CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to
the public or for limited inspection,'' and 30 CFR Part 252, ``OCS Oil
and Gas Information Program.''
The MMS Regional Supervisor must approve any lessee's proposal to
enter an agreement to unitize operations under two or more leases. We
must also approve modification of a unit agreement when changes in
circumstances warrant. We encourage unitization of operations on OCS
leases where unitized operations will further exploration of
prospective geological structures; increase the ultimate recovery of
oil and gas or sulphur reserves; lead to more efficient operation of
leases and reservoirs; and/or is necessary to protect correlative
rights. Unitization can be particularly beneficial in high-cost, high-
risk OCS areas. Lessees submit consolidated Exploration Plans and
Development and Production Plans for a unit area. We use the
information to ensure that operations under the proposed unit agreement
will result in preventing waste, conserving natural resources, and
protecting correlative rights including the government's interests. We
need to review all pertinent data before determining competitiveness of
a reservoir or deciding that compelling unitization will achieve the
desired results.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130
respondents (Federal oil and gas OCS lessees).
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a
total of 4,913 hours. The following chart details the individual
components and estimated hour burdens. In calculating the burdens, we
assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in the normal
course of their activities. We consider these to be usual and customary
and took that into account in estimating the burden.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average number Annual burden
Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart M Reporting requirement Hour burden annual responses hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requests
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1301(d), (f)(3), (g)(1), Request suspension of Burden covered in 1010-0114. 0
(g)(2)(ii). production or
operations.
----------------------------------------------------
1302(b).......................... Request preliminary 39 1 request.......... 39
determination on
competitive reservoir.
1304(b).......................... Request compulsory 161 1 request.......... 161
unitization, including
submitting unit
agreement, unit
operating agreement,
initial plan of
operation, and
supporting data;
serving non-consenting
lessees with documents.
1304(d).......................... Request hearing on 1 1 request.......... 1
required unitization.
----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal..................... ........................ .............. 3 responses........ 201
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submittals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1302(b).......................... Submit concurrence or 39 1 request.......... 39
objection on
competitiveness with
supporting evidence.
1302(c), (d)..................... Submit joint plan of 39 1 plan............. 39
operations,
supplemental plans, or
a separate plan if
agreement cannot be
reached.
1303; 1304....................... *Submit revisions or 8 54 revs/mods....... 432
modifications to unit
agreement, unit
operating agreement,
plan of operation,
change of unit
operator, etc.
----------------------------------------------------
$760 fees x 54 revisions/modifications = $41,040.
----------------------------------------------------
1303; 1304....................... *Submit initial, and 48 24 submissions..... 1,152
revisions to,
participating area.
1304(e).......................... Submit statement at 5 1 statement........ 5
hearing on compulsory
unitization.
1304(e).......................... Pay for and submit three 1 1 submission....... 1
copies of verbatim
transcript of hearing.
----------------------------------------------------
Court reporter and 3 transcript copies for 1
hearing = $500.
----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal..................... ........................ .............. 82 responses....... 1,668
----------------------------------------------------
$41,540 non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 37474]]
General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1301............................. General description of Burden included in the following 0
requirements. sections.
----------------------------------------------------
1303............................. Apply for voluntary 169 18 apps/plans...... 3,042
unitization, including
submitting unit
agreement, unit
operating agreement,
initial plan of
operation, and
supporting data;
request for variance
from model agreement
and other related
requirements.
----------------------------------------------------
$10,700 fee x 18 applications/plans = $192,600.
----------------------------------------------------
Due to ongoing litigation in the Pacific Region,
respondents did not submit burden data.
----------------------------------------------------
1304(f).......................... Appeal final order of Exempt as defined in 5 CFR 0
compulsory unitization. 1320.4(a)(2), (c).
----------------------------------------------------
1300-1304........................ General departure and 1 2 requests......... 2
alternative compliance
requests not
specifically covered
elsewhere in subpart M
regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal..................... ........................ .............. 20 responses....... 3,044
----------------------------------------------------
$192,600 non-hour cost burden
----------------------------------------------------
Total Burden................. ........................ .............. 105 responses...... 4,913
----------------------------------------------------
$234,140 Non-Hour Cost Burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden:
There are three non-hour costs associated with this information
collection. The estimated non-hour cost burden is $234,140. Section
250.1303 has two fees requiring respondents to pay a filing fee when
applying for a voluntary unitization proposal or unit expansion, and a
fee for unitization revision. The filing fees are required to recover
the Federal Government's processing costs. Section 250.1304(d) provides
an opportunity for parties notified of compulsory unitization to
request a hearing; therefore, section 250.1304(e) requires the party
seeking the compulsory unitization to pay for the court reporter and
copies of the verbatim transcript of the hearing. It should be noted
there have been no such hearings in the recent past, and none are
expected in the near future. We estimate that the burden would be less
than $500 to reproduce the copies and hire the reporter. We have not
identified any other ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this
collection of information.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated
to respond.
Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et
seq.) requires each agency `` * * * to provide notice * * * and
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *'' Agencies
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b)
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d)
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
To comply with the public consultation process, on December 26,
2007, we published a Federal Register notice (72 FR 73041) announcing
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided
the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec. 250.199 provides
the OMB control number for the information collection requirements
imposed by the 30 CFR 250 regulations. The regulation also informs the
public that they may comment at any time on the collections of
information and provides the address to which they should send
comments. We received one comment in response to these efforts from a
private citizen, B. Sachau, and the comment was not germane to the
paperwork burden of this collection.
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this
notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the
information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to
ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by
July 31, 2008.
Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address,
phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202)
208-7744.
[[Page 37475]]
April 23, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-14892 Filed 6-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P